Apparatus for mounting lamp shades on hanging lamps

ABSTRACT

A C-shaped member interposed between the terminal link of a chain in a hanging lamp and an electric socket embraces a hub mounting zone. The threaded mounting stud of the socket protrudes into the zone to receive the apertured mounting hub of a standard lamp shade.

United States Patent [151 3,693,001 Rogers [4 1 Sept. 19, 1972 [54]APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING LAMP [56] References Cited SHADES ON HANGINGLAMPS UNITED STATES PATENTS [721 The Lamp 1 583 639 5/1926 Ziska..240/12s Bmkfield Center 06804 1,683,904 9/1928 Knoblock ..240/7s E[22] Filed: April 1, 1971 Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Peters, Jr. [21]Appl 130347 Attorney-Mattem, Ware & Davis [52] US. Cl. ..240/l28,240/137, 240/143, [57] I ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. F21 3 3 7 /32 A c-shapedmemberimerposed between terminal Field of Search ..240/85 B, 85 C, 85 D,78 E, 240/88,108 R, 126, 127, 128, 132, M2, 153, 137, 143

link of a chain in a hanging lamp and an electric socket embraces a hubmounting zone. The threaded mounting stud of the socket protrudes intothe zone to receive the apertured mounting hub of a standard lamp shade.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEP I 9 I972 3.693; 001

INVENTOR. JOHN B. ROGERS RE AND DAVIS MATTERN WA ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FORMOUNTING LAMP SHADES ON HANGING LAMPS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hanging lamps or swag lamps or swag lampkits currently on sale and in use have a chain portion terminating at aring which receives in threaded engagement the threaded mounting stud ofan electrical socket. An electric cord passed through the links of thechain and passed coaxially through the threaded connector into thesocket for supplying electricity thereto. The socket is adapted toreceive a light bulb, and a switch may be associated therewith.

The coaxial configuration of the chain, chain terminating ring, lightsocket and cord does not provide a threaded stud for receiving astandard lamp shade without removal of the socket and disconnecting ofthe socket. For the purposes of this application, a standard lamp shadeshall be defined as one having an apertured hub portion with a pluralityof spokes extending radially outward therefrom to support an outer,decorative shade portion.

Consequently, specialized mounting apparatus for a shade and otherdecoration associated with the prior hanging lamps or swag kits wasprovided. Each such hanging lamp therefore had to be manufacturedindividually and stocked by a retailer as a single unit. No change inthe style of shade or type of decoration can readily be made. It wasalso not possible to easily replace the shade or decoration on suchlamps if they became damaged or soiled.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The hanging lamp according to this invention isadapted to have mounted thereon a standard lamp shade. The hanging lampcomprises a chain portion with a terminating ring at the end thereof. AC-shaped support member has its top leg connected to the terminatingring. The lower leg of the C-shaped support member has an internallythreaded bore formed therethrough, and a threaded mounting studprotruding from a standard electrical socket is secured therein. Theside portion of the C-shaped member provides an offset support for theelectrical socket, which is thereby positioned below the terminatingring. An electric cord is threaded through the chain and introduced intothe electrical socket at a point removed from the mounting stud.

A space embraced by the C-shaped bracket remains between the terminatingring of the chain and the electrical socket. A portion of the threadedmounting stud of the socket upstands into this space. The hub portion ofa conventional lamp shade may be placed over the upstanding mountingstud, and secured thereto by a decorative nut. This decorative nut maybe easily removed and a plurality of different shades may be installedin a similar manner. Decorations other than shades having a similar,apertured hub portion can also be mounted on the hanging lamp.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide ahanging lamp having easily changeable shades and decoration.

It is a second object of the invention to provide a hanging lamp onwhich a standard lamp shade can b removably mounted.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a hanging lamp onwhich decoration can be removably mounted.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the features,elements, combinations and operating procedures disclosed in thefollowing detailed description and shown in the drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of hanging lamp according tothe invention with a standard shade poised for mounting thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the hanging lampand shade of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, partially sectional, and partiallybroken away of the hanging lamp of FIG. 1 with the shade mountedthereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, a hanging lamp assembly 10is shown. The lamp comprises achain 12 having a terminating ring 14secured to the end thereof. An electrical socket l6 and a light bulb 17are secured to the terminating ring 14 by means of a C-shaped supportmember 18. A lamp cord 20 is threaded through the chain and introducedto the electrical socket 16 at an aperture 22; The lamp cord 20 may havea switch 24 interposed therein, and a plug 26 connected thereto forinsertion in a standard electrical outlet.

The lamp is supported by securing the chain 12 over an overhead hook 28mounted on a ceiling 30 of a room, and by a second hook 32 mounted on awall 34 of the room, said second hook supporting the chain adjacent tothe wall in a decorative fashion.

The lamp could also be supported by securing the chain to a mountingplate of an overhead electrical box, with the lamp cord 20 terminatingtherein.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional lamp shade 36 having a centralapertured mounting hub 38 and three spokes 40, 41, and 42 extendingradially outward therefrom to support the outer decorative shade portion44. The lamp shade 36 is being maneuvered towards its installed positionin the hanging lamp assembly 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, greater detail of the structural relationshipbetween the chain terminating ring 14, the C-shaped bracket 18, and theelectrical socket 16 is apparent. The chain terminating ring 14comprises a circular ring 50 which is passed through one length of thechain 12, and a generally conical member 52 having a flat bottomportion. The top leg 54 of the C-shaped bracket 18 is secured to theconical member 52 by means of a rivet 53 or the like. The terminatingring 14 and the C-shaped bracket 18 could also be fabricated as onepiece. The bottom leg 56 of the C- shaped bracket 18 has an internallythreaded bore 58 therethrough, into which is turned a threaded mountingstud 60 extending upward from the electrical socket 16. The side portion62 of the C-shaped bracket 18 provides an offset support meansconnecting the chain terminating ring 14 and the electrical socket 16. Ahub mounting zone is embraced by the C-shaped bracket. A portion of thestud 60 extends above the bottom leg 56 of the C-shaped bracket into thehub mounting zone. The lamp cord 20 is introduced to the electricalsocket 16 through aperture 22, which is spaced from the mounting stud60.

The electric socket 16 is thereby suspended generally centered below thechain 12 in the hanging lamp apparatus 10. The mounting stud 60 is alsosuspended directly below the chain 12, and a space remains between thetop of the mounting stud 60 and the top leg of 54 of the C-shapedbracket, this space comprising a portion of the hub mounting zone.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the shade 36 has been moved upward from itsposition in FIG. 1, and the electric socket 16 is positioned betweenspokes 41 and 42 of the shade. A subsequent sideways shift of the shade36 will cause the apertured mounting hub 38 to be positioned in the hubmounting zone and aligned with the mounting stud 60. The mounting hub 38is then passed over stud 60, and secured thereto by means of adecorative nut 64, wherein the shade 36 is mounted on the hanging lampassembly 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the hub portion 38 of the lamp shade 36 isshown positioned on the mounting stud 60 and secured thereon by thedecorative nut 64. The vertical dimension D of the mounting hub 38 isless than half of the height H which the mounting stud 60 protrudesabove the bottom leg 56 of the C-shaped bracket 18. Thus a secondmounting hub could also be mounted on the same stud, said second hubsupporting auxiliary decoration exclusive of the lamp shade.

It will be recognized that this method of attaching a shade to a lampmay be utilized in lamps other than hanging lamps by attaching theelectric socket to the lamp base by means of the bracket describedherein. For instance, the C-shaped bracket could be utilized insupporting an electrical socket and light bulb on a pole lamp, and ashade attached in a manner similar to that described above. The C-shapedbracket could also be interposed between the flexible neck and electricsocket in lamps of the goose neck variety and a shade attached thereto.An L-shaped bracket could also be utilized in a similar manner in theselamps.

Since the foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative,the scope of the invention has been broadly stated herein and it shouldbe liberally interpreted to secure the benefit of all equivalents towhich the invention is fairly entitled.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for attaching a standard lamp shade having an aperturedmounting hub to a hanging swag lamp having a suspended socket and shadesupport portion axially aligned with and surmounting a dependingelectric socket and associated depending light bulb comprising:

A. a non-axial cord bypass conduit associated with the sockets shell andconnecting a depending electrical power cord non-axially to the interiorof said socket;

B. an offset, non-axial bracket connected to the support portion,embracing an axial hub mounting zone positioned between the socket andthe axially aligned support portion, and

C. a threaded axial mounting stud 1. secured to the top of the socket inaxial alignment therewith,

2. positioned at the lower end of the offset bracket and protruding intothe axial hub mounting zone for receiving the apertured mounting hub ofthe standard lamp shade and an associated nut for securing the shadethereto.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises aC-shaped bracket, one leg of which is connected to the support portionof the lamp.

3. The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the support portion ofthe lamp comprises a chain.

4. The apparatus described in claim 3, wherein the bracket is integralwith the terminal link of the chain.

5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the cord bypass conduit isformed as a cord side-entry aperture in the sockets shell.

1. Apparatus for attaching a standard lamp shade having an aperturedmounting hub to a hanging ''''swag'''' lamp having a suspended socketand shade support portion axially aligned with and surmounting adepending electric socket and associated depending light bulbcomprising: A. a non-axial cord bypass conduit associated with thesocket''s shell and connecting a depending electrical power cordnonaxially to the interior of said socket; B. an offset, non-axialbracket
 1. connected to the support portion,
 2. embracing an axial hubmounting zone positioned between the socket and the axially alignedsupport portion, and C. a threaded axial mounting stud
 1. secured to thetop of the socket in axial alignment therewith,
 2. positioned at thelower end of the offset bracket and protruding into the axial hubmounting zone for receiving the apertured mounting hub of the standardlamp shade and an associated nut for securing the shade thereto. 2.embracing an axial hub mounting zone positioned between the socket andthe axially aligned support portion, and C. a threaded axial mountingstud
 2. positioned at the lower end of the offset bracket and protrudinginto the axial hub mounting zone for receiving the apertured mountinghub of the standard lamp shade and an associated nut for securing theshade thereto.
 2. The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein thebracket comprises a C-shaped bracket, one leg of which is connected tothe support portion of the lamp.
 3. The apparatus described in claim 1,wherein the support portion of the lamp comprises a chain.
 4. Theapparatus described in claim 3, wherein the bracket is integral with theterminal link of the chain.
 5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein thecord bypass conduit is formed as a cord side-entry aperture in thesocket''s shell.